4-day
Specific Tour
Unlimited
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Pilio is a place where the mountain meets the sea in a rare way. Dense forests of chestnut and beech, stone villages with old mansions and beaches on both the Pagasitic Gulf and the Aegean make it a year-round destination. It is ideal for a short escape from Athens by car.
In mythology Pilio was home to the Centaurs and the place where Chiron taught Achilles, while the Argonauts set sail from nearby Pagasae. During Ottoman rule the Pilio villages gained privileges and prospered through the silk trade and shipping, building their famous mansions. The legendary Pilio narrow-gauge train, designed by Evaristo de Chirico, opened in the late nineteenth century and still runs as a tourist line.
Makrinitsa, the balcony of Pilio, with its square and mansions, is an essential stop. Tsagarada with its centuries-old plane tree, picturesque Damouchari, Zagora, Milies with its railway station, and the beaches of Mylopotamos, Fakistra and Agios Ioannis complete the itinerary. The cobbled path down to Papa Nero and a stroll through Chania are also worthwhile.
Local cuisine is known for spetzofai, a stew of village sausage and peppers, for homemade pies and for mountain mushrooms. In the coastal villages you can enjoy fresh fish and Aegean seafood. Do not leave without tasting Zagora apples, spoon sweets and tsipouro served with meze.
Evenings in Pilio are calm and atmospheric, with tsipouro taverns and small bars on the village squares. Agios Ioannis and Chania are livelier during the summer months. In winter the fun moves around the fireplace, often with live traditional music.
Currency: Euro· Time: Greek local time· Access: by road from Athens via the Athens – Lamia national highway towards Volos, about 320 kilometres and 3 hours 30 minutes. From Volos the Pilio villages are 15 to 60 minutes away on winding but beautiful mountain roads, so a car is essential.
The trip runs for 4 days and starts from €255 per person, departing from Athens. You pick the dates — there is no fixed departure.
The price includes: car rental for the entire duration of the trip, 3 nights accommodation in a traditional guesthouse or mansion with breakfast, detailed driving itinerary and route suggestions, restaurant reservations at selected venues on request, support from our office throughout the trip, VAT and accommodation taxes where applicable.
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No account needed. We will let you know if anything worth knowing happens.
Optional tours, tickets and activities you can book for your days there. We arrange the trip — these you choose yourself.
Activities, experiences and local guides — book ahead and keep your days free of queues.
These activities are provided and sold by our partners. You complete the booking on their page, at exactly the same price.
This is a made-to-order trip, so you choose the dates. We are happy to advise on the best season for this destination and on how the weather, prices and crowds change through the year — just tell us roughly when you are thinking of travelling.
The main inclusions are:
The full list of what is and is not included appears in the "Included / Excluded" section on this page.
For domestic travel you need a valid police ID card or passport in order to board the ferry or the flight. Bring your AMKA or European Health Insurance Card, and a valid driving licence plus a credit card in the driver's name if a car or scooter is included. Minors must carry their own travel document. Entry rules change, so please confirm the current requirements with our office before you book.
The local currency is Euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels, but it is worth carrying some cash for small shops, markets and tips. Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked.
Changes and cancellations follow the terms of the airlines, hotels and suppliers booked for you, so the cost depends on how close to departure you are and on the fare rules of each booking. Tell us as early as possible and we will look for the least costly option. The general terms of participation apply to every booking.
Travel insurance is not included in the price unless the "Included" list on this page says otherwise. We strongly recommend it, especially for trips outside the EU, so that medical care, cancellation and lost luggage are covered. We can arrange a policy for you — just ask when you book.
Yes — this is an individual trip, not a group departure. There is no fixed itinerary and no coach schedule: you travel on your own, at your own pace. We can change the number of nights, the class of hotel, add or drop destinations and arrange transfers, car hire or private guides.
Send us a request through the form on this page, call us, or drop by the office. We will come back with availability and a written quotation before anything is charged. The trip as shown runs for 4 days.
